abstract |
The application relates to the purification and characterisation of a family of A-type inositolphosphoglycans (IPGs) from human liver and placenta. These substances are shown to have the biological activity associated with A-type IPG fractions, namely regulating lipogenic activity and inhibiting cAMP dependent protein kinase. The characterisation of the compounds demonstrates that they contain metal ions, in particular Zn2+, and optionally phosphate. The compounds and their antagonists have uses as pharmaceuticals, e.g. for the treatment of diabetes, and in screening for synthetic analogues. |